title: Effect of Green Tea Extract/Poly-γ-Glutamic Acid Complex in Obese Type 2 Diabetic Mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with the rapid spread of obesity. Obesity induces insulin resistance, resulting in β-cell dysfunction and thus T2DM. Green tea extract (GTE) has been known to prevent obesity and T2DM, but this effect is still being debated. Our previous results suggested that circulating green tea gallated catechins (GCs) hinders postprandial blood glucose lowering, regardless of reducing glucose and cholesterol absorption when GCs are present in the intestinal lumen. This study aimed to compare the effect of GTE with that of GTE coadministered with poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA), which is likely to inhibit the intestinal absorption of GCs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The db/db mice and age-matched nondiabetic mice were provided with normal chow diet containing GTE (1%), γ-PGA (0.1%), or GTE+γ-PGA (1%:0.1%) for 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In nondiabetic mice, none of the drugs showed any effects after 4 weeks. In db/db mice, however, weight gain and body fat gain were significantly reduced in the GTE+γ-PGA group compared to nondrug-treated db/db control mice without the corresponding changes in food intake and appetite. Glucose intolerance was also ameliorated in the GTE+γ-PGA group. Histopathological analyses showed that GTE+γ-PGA-treated db/db mice had a significantly reduced incidence of fatty liver and decreased pancreatic islet size. Neither GTE nor γ-PGA treatment showed any significant results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that GTE+γ-PGA treatment than GTE or γ-PGA alone may be a useful tool for preventing both obesity and obesity-induced T2DM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Cheor
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Jae-Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ann-Yae
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Sun-Joo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Shinbyoung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Sang-Pyo
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byung-Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Ho-Chan
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Yong Woon
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dae-Kyu
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Song
keywords: Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Gallated catechins; Glucose intolerance; Obesity; Poly-γ-glutamic acid; db/db mice